Cartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons

ABSTRACT

A cartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons, in which the cartridges withdrawn from a cartridge belt are adapted to be moved by means of a stepwise driven follower in a stationary longitudinally extending conveyor passage and are by means of an intermittently movable pusher transferable from the conveyor passage into a corresponding bore of a rotatable disc which latter is rotatable into an angular position which corresponds to the elevational position of the weapon and thereby of the weapon magazine. In this last mentioned position of the transfer disc the pusher transfers the cartridge from the transfer disc into the magazine.

[ Uet.9,1l973 CARTREDGE FEEDING AND LOADING DIEVTCE FOR LKGHT WEAPONSInventor: Wilheim Rieke, Bremen, Germany Assignee: RheinstahlAktiengesellschaft, Essen,

Germany Filed: May 8, 1972 Appl. No.: 251,247

Foreign Application Priority Data May 7, 1971 Germany P 21 22 780.5

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Aldrin 89/33 A PrimaryExaminerStephen C. Bentley Attorney-Walter Becker [57] ABSTRACT Acartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons, in which thecartridges withdrawn from a cartridge belt are adapted to be moved bymeans of a stepwise driven follower in a stationary longitudinallyextending conveyor passage and are by means of an intermittently movablepusher transferable from the conveyor passage into a corresponding boreof a rotatable disc which latter is rotatable into an angular positionwhich corresponds to the elevational position of the weapon and therebyof the weapon magazine. ln this last mentioned position of the transferdisc the pusher transfers the cartridge from the transfer disc into themagazine.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Ill/l1 /l I) l III iT :T""" a ii li ff? /4'c i Q SHEET 2 BF 2 PATENTED BET 1975 F IG CARTRIDGE FEEDING AND LOADINGDEVICE IFGR LIGHT WEAPONS The present invention relates to a cartridgefeeding and loading device for light weapons with a conveying passageextending from the magazine and having its upper end provided with arotatable disc with a passage for the cartridges.

With light weapons, as a rule, the cartridges stored in belts arestepwise by means of a conveying device actuated by the shooting proper,fed from the magazine to the loading device, and by the latter arepushed out of the ammunition belt and introduced into the cartridgechamber of the barrel. The guiding of the cartridges, however, requiresan additional device by means of which the cartridges, prior to theloading operation, are moved into a position which corresponds to therespective angle of elevation of the weapon.

It is known for belted cartridge feeding to provide a conveying passageand to make the same two-sectional in such a way that it comprises astationary and a tiltable passage. The tiltable passage is connected tothe weapon so that it can follow the tilting movement of the weaponabout the axis of elevation. The belted cartridges are within theconveying passages guided over deviating or deflecting rollers andguiding rollers and are conveyed by means of the trunnion or gudgeon tothe weapon. Such an arrangement is disclosed, for instance, in GermanOffenlegungsschrift Pat. 1,800,330.

From German Offenlegungsschrift Pat. 1,453,812 there has also becomeknown an arrangement according to which a stationary and a tiltableconveying passage are connected to each other by a housing which has tworotors provided with teeth which engage the cartridge belt and assure aproper position of the cartridge belt prior to its entry into a feedermounted on the barrel.

These known devices, however, require a relatively large space becausethe cartridge belts in the individual belt links permit only a slightmovability and because, for guiding the cartridges in the direction ofthe axis of the barrel bore, circular paths are required.

Inasmuch as the space available for withdrawing the belt cartridges fromthe magazine and for loading of the weapon is generally rather limited,it has been suggested, as connecting element for the two conveyingpassages, to employ a rotatable perforated disc through which the beltedcartridges are passed and deflected.

However, experience has shown that such a device is suitable only for alimited angle of elevation of the weapon because with increasingdeflection of the cartridge belt a higher resistance against movement isencountered and, consequently, the employment of this design is excludedwith greater angles of elevation of the weapon as it occurs, forinstance, when using the weapon for fighting low flying airplanes.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention so to design adevice of the above described general character that it can be usedwithout cartridge belt and at any desired angular position of the barrelwhile requiring little space and being ready for use at any timeindependent of its respective intended position of use.

This object and other objects and advantages of the invention willappear more clearly from the following specification in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents a vertical section through a device according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 represents a rotatable perforated disc as seen from the cartridgefeeding device for use in connection with the device of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a section through a portion of the driving device for use inconnection with the device of the invention, the driving deviceincluding a motor and gear segment drives.

FIG. 4 shows a crank drive for the follower in the conveying passagefollowed by a crank drive for the rotatable perforated disc as seen fromthe drive motor while only those parts are shown which are essential forthe invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the crank drive according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a crank drive for the cartridge pusher likewise as seen fromthe drive motor.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the crank drive of FIG. 6.

The cartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons according tothe invention is characterized primarily in that the cartridgeswithdrawn from the belt are adapted to be moved by means of a stepwisedriven deflectable follower in the stationary feeding passage and arealso adapted from this stationary feeding passage individually by anintermittently movable pusher to be pushed into the rotatable perforateddisc, which disc changes the position of the cartridges from theposition in which they were introduced into an angular positioncorresponding to the respective elevated position of the barrel,whereupon the cartridges are by means of the pusher pressed into alateral opening of the cartridge chamber. Thereupon the perforated disc,the pusher, and the follower are returned to their loading and startingposition for a new cycle while devices are provided for a separatedrive.

According to a further development of the invention, the conveyingpassage has locking elements adapted to deflect in transportingdirection, and has its upper end arranged on a housing extending intransverse direction and provided for the pusher.

According to a still further feature of the invention, the rotatableperforated disc is located between the conveying passage and the weaponand is coaxial with the trunnion or gudgeon of the weapon while beingadapted independently of the movement of elevation of the weapon to bemoved in an antifriction bearing. In this connection it is expedientthat the rotatable perfo' rated disc has an opening which correspondsapproximately to the dimensions of the cartridge while on that side ofthe opening which faces the conveying passage, at the longitudinal sidesof the opening, there are pro vided supports located opposite to eachother which have diametrically oppositely located recesses. In theserecesses springs are provided which in pairs hold the cartridgeyieldably therebetween by means of a correspondingly curved section. Apair of springs engages a recess in the cartridge so that the latter issecured against a longitudinal movement.

Preferably the rotatable perforated disc has a stationary abutment whichin its loading position is in alignment with a likewise stationaryabutment, and at the same angular position of the barrel is in alignmentwith an abutment located, for instance, on the cartridge chamber.

Preferably as separate drive there is provided a motor with gear segmenttransmission while for conveying the stepwise movements limited by twoend positions and alternating in their direction crank drives withconnecting rods are employed.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the device shown thereincomprises a stationary conveying passage ll having one end connected toa non-illustrated cartridge magazine and having its other end connectedto the slide or pusher housing 2. In the conveying passage 1 there isprovided a deflectable follower 3 which is driven stepwise and whichduring the feeding operation catches behind the cartridges 4 withdrawnfrom the belt and arranged in spaced relationship one behind the other.In order to make sure that, when the follower 3 is lifted off thecartridges 4, the latter cannot fall back into the magazine, theconveying or feeding passage 1 is provided with locking members adaptedto deflect in transporting direction. The housing 2 which is connectedto the upper end of the conveying passage 1 extends transverse theretoand comprises a slide or pusher S which is adapted to feed thecartridges 4 individually from the conveying passage 1 into theperforated disc 6 which follows the passage 1 in conveying direction. Tothis end, the pusher 5 is provided with a supporting member which isbowl-shaped and corresponds to one half of the length of the cartridge.The rotatable perforated disc 6 is coaxial with the trunnion or gudgeonfor the elevational movement of the weapon 8 and rests in anantifriction bearing 9 which is located between the conveying passage 1and the weapon 8. The perforated disc 6 is movable independently of theelevational movement of the weapon 8 and has an opening 10 whichcorresponds approximately to the dimensions of the cartridge 4. At bothlongitudinal sides of the opening 110 and pointing toward the passage llthere are provided supports 11, 111' which are located opposite to eachother and which during the transport of the cartridge 4 from theconveying passage 1 to the perforated disc 6 serve as guiding means forthe cartridge. In these supporting means there are provideddiametrically oppositely located recesses 112, 112 and T3, 13' in whichsprings 14, 14' and T5, 15' are connected. These springs are arranged inpairs which hold the cartridge 41 therebetween in correspondingdepressions. In order to prevent the cartridge, for instance whenrotating the perforated disc 6, from being displaced in axial direction,two oppositely located springs 14, 14 forming a pair engage a recess orgroove 116a of the cartridge 4. After the cartridge 4 is pushed into therotatable perforated disc 6 and has been grasped by the springs 14, H4and l5, 15', the pusher 5 is retracted by an amount equalling thediameter of the cartridge, and the perforated disc is by means of adrive to be described later turned until the car tridge 4 located in thedisc 6 occupies an angular position which corresponds to the axis of thebarrel bore as it is indicated, for instance, in FIG. 2 by dot-dashlines. The rotatable disc 6 has a stationary abutment 16 which in theloading position for the disc is in alignment with a non-illustratedlikewise stationary abutment and, when the disc 6 is in the same angularposition as the barrel, is in alignment with an abutment 18 arranged,for instance, on the cartridge chamber 117 of the weapon 8. As soon asthe abutment 16 of the rotatable perforated disc 6 engages the abutment18 of the weapon 8 so that the cartridge 4 in the disc 6 occupies anangular position corresponding to the axis of the barrel bore, thepusher 5 is again advanced forwardly and presses the cartridge 4 out ofthe holding springs 14, H4 and 115, 115' through the opening 10 in thedisc 6 and further through a lateral opening 19 into the cartridgechamber 117 of the weapon 8. Subsequently, the disc 6 is turned backinto the loading position, the pusher 5 is moved back to its startingposition, and the follower 3 is lowered so that a new cycle of thecartridge feeding and loading opeartion can start.

After the general design of the cartridge feeding and loading device andits position with regard to the weapon has been explained, there willnow be described the device for driving or operating the same. The driveis effected by a motor 20 which is independent of the shooting action.The motor 20 comprises an output shaft 2E having arranged thereon a gearsegment drive 22 for the pusher 5 in housing 2 and also having arrangedthereon a gear segment drive 23 for the rotatable perforated disc 6. Thetransmission 23 has associated therewith an additional gear 24 for thefollower 3 in the conveying passage ii. The transmissions 22, 23primarily comprise a control gear 25, 26 with tooth gaps and alsocomprise gears 24:, 27, 28, holding discs 29, 30, 31, cranks 32, 33, 34and connecting rods 35, 36, 37. The connecting rod 35 is linked to atwoarm stationary but pivotally journalled lever 38 the other lever armof which is rotatable about a fixed pivot (not shown) and is connectedto the pusher 5. The connecting rod 36 linked to the crank 33 andconnected to the rotatable disc 6 forms a telescopic rod and is undercontinuous spring pressure. The stroke is designed for a pivot angle ofWhen the elevational angle of the weapon is less than 90, the abutment18 of the cartridge chamber 117 permits in cooperation with the abutment16 of disc 6 only a corresponding rotation of disc 6, and the spring inthe telescopic rod is compressed. During one revolution of theoutputshaft 21 of motor 20 seven conveying steps are carried out:

Step 1: Tilting of the crank 34 by 90 and transporting the cartridge 4in the conveying passage 1 by the follower 3.

Step 2: Tilting of the crank 32 by 60 and transporting of the cartridge4 from the conveying passage 1 into the disc 6 by means of the pusher 5.

Step 3: Tilting of the crank 33 by 90 and simultaneous rotation of thedisc 6 until the cartridge 4 occupies a position parallel to the barrelbore axis of weapon 8.

At the same time the crank 34 tilts the follower 3 in passage 1downwardly.

Steps 4 and 5: Tilting of the crank 32 by four times 60 and simultaneousconveying of the cartridge from disc 6 into the cartridge chamber 117 ofthe weapon 8 and rearward movement of pusher 5 to the disc 6.

Step 6: Tilting of the crank 33 by 90 and rotation of disc 6 to itsloading position.

Step 7: Tilting of the crank 32 by 60 and return of pusher 5 to itsstarting position.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by nomeans, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but alsocomprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons, whichincludes: longitudinally extending stationary conveying means having oneend adapted to be connected to a supply of cartridges for successivelyreceiving therefrom cartridges one behind the other, a

rotatable transfer disc having its axis of rotation located near theother end of said longitudinally extending conveying means with saidaxis of rotation extending in a direction transverse to the longitudinalextension of said conveying means, said transfer disc having receivingpassage means extending along a diameter of said disc for temporarilyreceiving a cartridge, said stationary conveying means having atransverse passage therethrough arranged in substantial alignment withsaid receiving passage means in a first position of said disc, a weaponcomprising a cartridge chamber connected to said weapon and journalledas part of said weapon so as to be pivotable about an axis arranged inaxial alignment with the axis of rotation of said transfer disc, saiddisc also being pivotable from said first position to a second positionby an angle corresponding to the respective angle of elevation of thebarrel of said weapon, and longitudinally extending pusher meansextending in axial alignment with said transverse passage and operableto extend into and through said transverse passage for transferring onecartridge at a time from said conveying means into said receivingpassage means when said disc is in said first position, said pushermeans also being operable after rotation of said disc to said secondposition to push the respective cartridge in said receiving passagemeans from the latter into said cartridge chamber of said weapon.

2. A device according to claim 1, which includes motor driven controlmeans operatively connected to said transfer disc and said conveyingmeans and said pusher means respectively for automatically resettingthem at the end of a cycle.

3. A device according to claim 1, which includes housing means forguiding said pusher means, and in which said conveying means includescasing means connected to said housing means and also includes lockingmeans for temporarily holding the cartridges in said conveying means intheir respective positions, said locking means being movable in theconveying direction of said conveying means.

4. A device according to claim 1, in which said rotatable transfer discis located between said conveying means and said weapon and has its axisof rotation in axial alignment with the pivot axis of said weapon,antifriction bearing means being provided for rotatably supporting saidtransfer disc for rotation of said transfer disc independently of theelevational pivoting movement of the barrel of said weapon 5. A deviceaccording to claim l, in which said receiving passage means is ofapproximately rectangular cross sectional to accomodate the respectivecartridge for said weapon, and in which pairs of spring means arearranged opposite to each other and associated with said receivingpassage means for yieldably holding a cartridge inserted into saidreceiving passage means while preventing said last mentioned cartridgefrom moving in its axial direction.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said spring means areoperable to engage groove means on opposite sides of the longitudinalaxis of a cartridge in said receiving passage means.

7. A device according to claim 1, in which said trans fer disc includescontrol abutment means and said weapon includes first abutment means forengagement with said control abutment means when said transfer discoccupies said second position, said device also including secondabutment means for engagement by said control abutment means when saidtransfer disc occupies said first position.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which said first abutment means isfirmly connected to the cartridge chamber of the weapon.

9. A device according to claim 1, which includes driving meanscomprising motor means and gear seg ment transmission means drivinglyconnected to said motor means for actuating said conveying means andsaid transfer disc and said pusher means.

1. A cartridge feeding and loading device for light weapons, whichincludes: longitudinally extending stationary conveying means having oneend adapted to be connected to a supply of cartridges for successivelyreceiving therefrom cartridges one behind the other, a rotatabletransfer disc having its axis of rotation located near the other end ofsaid longitudinally extending conveying means with said axis of rotationextending in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension ofsaid conveying means, said transfer disc having receiving passage meansextending along a diameter of said disc for temporarily receiving acartridge, said stationary conveying means having a transverse passagetherethrough arranged in substantial alignment with said receivingpassage means in a first position of said disc, a weapon comprising acartridge chamber connected to said weapon and journalled as part ofsaid weapon so as to be pivotable about an axis arranged in axialalignment with the axis of rotation of said transfer disc, said discalso being pivotable from said first position to a second position by anangle corresponding to the respective angle of elevation of the barrelof said weapon, and longitudinally extending pusher means extending inaxial alignment with said transverse passage and operable to extend intoand through said trAnsverse passage for transferring one cartridge at atime from said conveying means into said receiving passage means whensaid disc is in said first position, said pusher means also beingoperable after rotation of said disc to said second position to push therespective cartridge in said receiving passage means from the latterinto said cartridge chamber of said weapon.
 2. A device according toclaim 1, which includes motor driven control means operatively connectedto said transfer disc and said conveying means and said pusher meansrespectively for automatically resetting them at the end of a cycle. 3.A device according to claim 1, which includes housing means for guidingsaid pusher means, and in which said conveying means includes casingmeans connected to said housing means and also includes locking meansfor temporarily holding the cartridges in said conveying means in theirrespective positions, said locking means being movable in the conveyingdirection of said conveying means.
 4. A device according to claim 1, inwhich said rotatable transfer disc is located between said conveyingmeans and said weapon and has its axis of rotation in axial alignmentwith the pivot axis of said weapon, anti-friction bearing means beingprovided for rotatably supporting said transfer disc for rotation ofsaid transfer disc independently of the elevational pivoting movement ofthe barrel of said weapon.
 5. A device according to claim 1, in whichsaid receiving passage means is of approximately rectangular crosssectional to accomodate the respective cartridge for said weapon, and inwhich pairs of spring means are arranged opposite to each other andassociated with said receiving passage means for yieldably holding acartridge inserted into said receiving passage means while preventingsaid last mentioned cartridge from moving in its axial direction.
 6. Adevice according to claim 5, in which said spring means are operable toengage groove means on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of acartridge in said receiving passage means.
 7. A device according toclaim 1, in which said transfer disc includes control abutment means andsaid weapon includes first abutment means for engagement with saidcontrol abutment means when said transfer disc occupies said secondposition, said device also including second abutment means forengagement by said control abutment means when said transfer discoccupies said first position.
 8. A device according to claim 7, in whichsaid first abutment means is firmly connected to the cartridge chamberof the weapon.
 9. A device according to claim 1, which includes drivingmeans comprising motor means and gear segment transmission meansdrivingly connected to said motor means for actuating said conveyingmeans and said transfer disc and said pusher means.